Man struck by car in Boulder; his dog, hit by separate car, still sought

By Joe Rubino, Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
01/08/2013 05:42:36 PM MST

Updated:
01/08/2013 07:39:46 PM MST

A man was taken to Boulder Community Hospital on Tuesday evening with non-serious injuries after being struck by a car in the intersection of Foothills Parkway and Baseline Road as he chased after his dog, which had slipped out of its collar, police say.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the busy intersection in southeastern Boulder at about 5:40 p.m. on reports of a male pedestrian who had been hit by a car and was lying in the roadway.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was walking his dog and was waiting for the traffic light to change so that he could cross Foothills eastbound on Baseline when his dog slipped out of its collar and ran into traffic, according to police Sgt. Lauri Wegscheider.

The man chased after his dog and was struck by a car in the southbound lanes, where he lay until emergency crews arrived.

He was eventually taken to Boulder Community Hospital, but it was not considered an emergency.

The dog, a red heeler named Ernie, was struck by another car but reportedly got up and ran away, Wegscheider said. Police were not able to find the dog in the immediate area.

Ernie has a tracking microchip embedded in him, according to his owners. Wegscheider said anyone who finds him should take him to a veterinarian or the Humane Society of Boulder Valley so that he can be reunited with his owners.

The southbound lanes of Foothills were closed for more than an hour while crews responded to the call.